New Perodua Myvi makes public debut in Malaysia

The 2018 Perodua Myvi has made its public debut in Malaysia. But hold your horses; the new Myvi, while physically on display, is being kept in a box designed to allow just a sneak peek. There are letterbox holes on the front and rear ends of the box. We also see slots at the sides, but these were not opened at the time of press. Order books are open today.

The peep show affords a view of the third-generation Myvi’s face, but only the upper portion with the grille and headlamps. There’s a bit of Alza in the face, giving the new model a “Perodua look” if there’s such a thing. But what P2 really wants to show is the new Myvi’s headlamps, which are LED units across the board. Yes, from the entry RM44,300 manual 1.3 Standard G.

The LED headlamps, which have auto off and follow-me-home functions, are boxed in by signal lamps at the ends and positioning lamps (“small lights”) on the top, like eyebrows. They should outshine the outgoing car‘s halogen projectors by some margin – check out our “night shots” below for a view that will be ubiquitous very soon.

We also get a view of the new Myvi’s rear end. The number plate is no longer on the hatch, and is now located on the bumper, like the Axia. The hatch now houses part of the rear lamp cluster, which is taller on the body side than on the hatch side. There’s a rear spoiler (only for 1.5L variants) and LED tail lamps with light guides (standard for all). The static and digital booth displays show the 1.5L’s 15-inch dual-tone alloys.

It’s now clear that the new Myvi is not a rebadge of the JDM Daihatsu Boon, which we showed you in detail last month. The upper body is a 100% Perodua design. “The all-new Myvi is a the first Perodua model to have an upper body designed completely in-house, without foreign input,” said Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, president and CEO of Perodua.

While the full specifications have not been released, there’s a leaflet highlighting the new Myvi’s top features. What we know is that the new car is longer and wider, but lower than its high-roofed predecessor. Perodua also claims a 973 mm tandem distance (distance between the front and rear passengers) and an ‘8+1 flexible seating arrangement’ (nine layouts, not seats).

Five variants are on offer, and they are the 1.3 Standard G (MT), 1.3 Standard G (AT), 1.3 Premium X, 1.5 High and 1.5 Advance. The 1.3L and 1.5L engines offered are from the Toyota/Daihatsu NR family, with DOHC and Dual VVT-i. Base five-speed manual variant aside, all Myvis get a four-speed automatic gearbox.

It’s exactly the same engine line-up as the Toyota Avanza and not a carry-over from the previous Myvi. The 1.3L 1NR-VE is also same unit used in the Bezza 1.3L, and in the sedan it makes 94 hp at 6,000 rpm and 121 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 1.5L 2NR-VE makes 105 PS at 6,000 rpm and 136 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm in the Avanza. The 1.5L NR engine also powers the Toyota Vios.

Eco Idle auto start-stop, which made its debut in the Bezza, is available on 1.3 Premium X and above variants. Along with aerodynamic improvements, the new Myvi’s fuel economy is as good as 20.1 km/l for the 1.5L auto. The claimed FC for the outgoing Myvi 1.5L AT is 15.4 km/l.

Now to the features. All variants get LED headlamps with a ‘Follow Me Home’ function, keyless entry with push start (unlike some premium German cars!), 60:40 split folding rear seats and reverse sensors. 1.3L variants get four airbags (front and side) ABS, EBD and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) as standard. They roll on 14-inch wheels. As mentioned, Eco Idle is available from the 1.3 Premium X.

Moving up to the 1.5L variants nets one 15-inch rims, front and side skirting, two-tone rear bumper, a rear spoiler and an integrated Touch n Go reader (insert you TnG card into the car and use Smart Tag lanes without the Smart Tag). Both 1.5L variants get six airbags – front, side and curtain.

These are existing Daihatsu systems and they operate through a forward-facing stereo camera on the top of the windscreen. PCW warns you when a collision is about to happen, PCB is autonomous emergency braking, while FDA alerts you when the car in front has moved on (in a traffic jam), saving you from being honked by the car behind. PMC detects an obstruction in front, and will not allow the car to accelerate. Full explanation on ASA and its functions here. Perodua is targeting a five-star rating from ASEAN NCAP.

Yes, all that for a RM55,300 car. That’s the price of the 1.5 Advance with ASA. The new Myvi range starts from RM44,300 for the 1.3 Standard G (MT), rising to RM46,300 for the 1.3 Standard G (AT), RM48,300 for the 1.3 Premium X and RM51,800 for the 1.5 High. All prices are on-the-road excluding insurance. Gear Up accessories, including the just-introduced child seats, are available.

Six colours are available, and they are Lava Red, Mystical Purple, Glittering Silver, Ivory White, Granite Grey (1.5 only) and Peppermint Green (1.3 only). The latter two are new colours. Here’s the spec summary, in point form.

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

Crossover? No, I think it will be a good looking B-Segment hatchback in the same vein as the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2. It already looks much better than the egg-shaped Honda Jazz.

But if the next Alza morphs into a 7-seat crossover, it will get everyone excited again especially if it would look better than the ugly Honda BRV. But if doesn’t become a crossover, many would be willing to settle for a good looking MPV ala rebadged Toyota Wish (is that hoping for too much?)

Wow this new myvi really do have loads of equipments and goodies. Did I miss out or did it not mention anything about having a cruise control? If you travel long distance often you’ll appreciate the cruise control helping you to reduce risk of getting tickets.

Proton is the one that started the ball rolling. After how many years only Perodua want to put ABS in Myvi? I’m impressed with the new Myvi, but come on la, without Iriz and new Persona, you think Perodua will bother to come out with Bezza and new Myvi?

Judging at interior pictures, looks what could be dual zone climate control, that would be overkill really, a digital single zone would be sufficient, and if I recall there is no competition within the price bracket that offer such system. In car tech seems to be more than sufficient to pamper any first time Malaysian car buyer (fingers cross to CarPlay and Android Auto)

I think another of its highlight, aside from its safety tech, is the presence of an integrated SmartTaG…. honestly is about damn bloody time. My friends Japan imported Nissan Murano has one (for Japanese cards) and it boggles the mind why did it take so damn long for any local manufacturer to introduce this system, probably lessen the amount of people jamming up Smart Tag lanes because of tint problem ,or reluctance to stuck it properly on the windshield and holding it like a one handed Rafiki holding Simba everytime crossing the SmarTag lane, or not checking the bloody battery level and jamming one of the Smart Tag lane on the Subang exit during rush hour resulting in being horned by a following BMW driver…. I’am at fault of the latter sorry.

A great product can only bring greater competition. Aside from its honestly game-changing safety spec for the market price, the Myvi itself is already a household name. A product that I believe every B-segment car maker in Malaysia is trying to beat, mainly Proton. the chess piece have been move, Perodua has now ‘check’ the King, your move now Malaysian automotive players…. and in this game, the winner will always be the rakyat.

Perodua is seriously wanna tapau proton. This brand new myvi is improved hugely from predecessor while the price remain almost the same. With all these features the myvi is worthy than T & H foreign brand. Well done perodua

What’s with the overly secretive launching approach? It not as if it’s a secret weapon of sorts. Just be open and casual with the launching Perodua. You guys at Perodua are overdoing it. Even supercars manufacturers don’t launch their cars in this manner. Typical!!!

That is not the new perodua face, that is the Saga FLX copy face. Which is IMO a compliment to how good the Saga FLX looks in the first place. Pity that Proton tried too hard for the New Saga with all the disproportionate and awkward styling.

Lol. U think saga look is originals?no design look nowadays is original. Everythinh is copy, then redesign. The front lamp look more like the all new swift in japan, and the car body and design look like toyota im. With a bit of twist lah.

Kudos to p2…quietly working at the back and suddenly shocked everyone with excellent products (diam diam ubi berisi)… Another point I note is that p2 collaborate with their japanese partner systematically, they are catching up bit by bit in solid manner…

Unlike p1 talk and boast so much yet come out with some irrelevant products (tin tin kosong berbunyi) and another point I note is that it is too ambitious for example belum tahu merangkak nak berjalan, belum tahu berjalan nak berlari… and that’s why its products got problems here and there…

Aiseh, sudah 30 tahun also masih merangkak ah?? The irrelevant products are because of decisions of Proton bosses (and Modenas too, only there because of connections) that have 0 idea of a people’s car, as they all drive expensive luxury and sports cars.

The offerings from Perodua to the Malaysian automotive industry has stepped up to the highest level in terms on affordability and the introduction of it’s first Autonomous Emergency Braking car. Well done Perodua. You had once proved that you are on the right track to provide the people of Malaysia safe and affordable sub-RM55K car with 6 air-bags and VSC as standard with the generous inclusion of AEB with Warning and Braking (low speed), Front Departure Warning and Pedal Misoperation Control. Not to mention, LED front headlamps as standard too. What a leap of improvement since the first launch of the Perodua Myvi back in 2005 with the option of dual air-bags, ABS and EBD. Well done once again Perodua!

Since from 1st generation myvi led tail lamp cause a lot of glaring to the driver behind. Jpj should Please do something to ban myvi using led light cause the design directly shine without filter by the reflector. Same with axia and alza. If traffic jammed follow this car from behind really unfortunate. Eye fatigue which translate to increase accident. Not to mention of the atitude of myvi driver

A rebadge Toyota Auris (Corolla iM) seems like it will be underpowered with the 1.3 NA engine. The 1.5NA is the lowest power version of Auris in other markets. This hatch Corolla (Altis) should technically be a C-segment with the likes of Focus, Golf, and 308 hence 1.5NA should have been the bare minimum engine option.

You, know… I actually think he may be onto something. I compared the side profile of the 2017 Auris with one of the new Myvi side spyshot (the white unit, mirror image one), I tend to agree it seems to share that platform. The window lines, door shut lines, door handles, pillar design, antennae, door mirror, A-pillar trim, mudguard and side skirt design all match. The only difference is the headlights, tailights and shorter front and rear bumpers.

Even the interior dashboard and instrument cluster design is very familiar. So I am slowly believing TreeHugger’s statement. That being said, how awesome is it we are getting to buy a rebadged Auris for such a great price?

Pissed off Perodua caused many people wanted Perodua to be at 1st place they don’t allow Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz and Kia and Audi and Proton and others to be at the top. It is very selfish. Also, soon or later, Perodua will be unreliable and will be very bad service if there are many Perodua vehicles on the road and also Perodua will not going to be at the top position. Also, Perodua still having 4AT Automatic Transmission and Perodua Bezza, Axia and Also doesn’t have any safety features and we also prove that Perodua will be still having 4 star NCAP rating which is still not in good safety even New Myvi have safety features without 5 star NCAP rating. Soon Perodua sales will be decrease and also don’t buy Perodua.

what’s the big deal that needs sneak peek ? it’s a car for the masses not by choice anyway …. not like it’s anyone’s dream car. Affordable but not cheap….anyway credit to be given P2; finally all new Myvi….

Great effort from Perodua! This should set a new standard for car safety in Malaysia. Hopefully more Malaysians will think safety first instead of resale value.
Now, let’s hope Perodua has fixed the faulty third brake light as well. Most essential safety feature. Quite a lot of Perodua cars on the road have this problem.

The features it’s offering put my Mazda 2 to shame. One of the most expensive B-Segment car and can’t even compare to Myvi. Why spend RM95k when you can get all at the price of RM55k.
RM40k just for the brand saje. Haiyo

You can either post as a guest or have an option to register. Among the advantages of registering is once a name has been registered, a guest cannot post using that name. If you have an account, please login before commenting. If you wish to have a profile photo next to your name, register at Gravatar using the same e-mail address you use to comment.